Rail Padding

ABSTRACT

A protective padding for covering the upper portion of a barrier of the character found in sports venues, such as baseball fields, soccer fields, football fields and the like. The protective padding uniquely includes a plurality of padding assemblies, each padding assembly covering a section of the barrier and each including an elongate structural channel positioned over the top rail of the barrier. The elongate channel includes longitudinally spaced apart pairs of inwardly extending support brackets. A plurality of securement members span the support brackets with each securement member having a central portion provided with a threaded bore that threadably receives a threaded screw having a first end moveable into engagement with the top rail of the barrier. An elongate foam member is superimposed over the elongate channel and a vinyl covering covers the elongate foam member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to padding for covering portions of rail type barriers. More particularly, the invention concerns a novel padding assembly for covering the upper portion, including the top rail, of rail type barriers of the character found at the dugouts of various types of sports venues.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Padding of various kinds has long been used to cover portions of perimeter fences at a number of different types of sports venues including baseball fields, soccer fields, football fields and the like. Perimeter fences typically include a series of posts set in the ground with a fencing material, such as chain-link fencing, spanning the posts. Typically, the prior art protective padding comprises plywood panels covered with vinyl encased, high impact foam that are connected to the chain link fence using plastic washers that are bolted to the back of the protective padding assemblies.

The thrust of the present invention is to provide a uniquely configured padding assembly for covering the upper portions, including the top rail, of rail type barriers of the character typically found at a number of different types of sports venues.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By way of brief summary, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel sports venue rail padding that is specially designed for covering the upper portion of a barrier such as a dugout rail barrier. The padding comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart padding assemblies that are positioned over the top rail of the barrier. Each padding assembly comprises an elongate structural channel that has a top wall and transversely spaced sidewalls connected to the top wall, each of the transversely spaced apart side walls having a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of inwardly extending support brackets. Spanning each of the pairs of support brackets is a securement member that includes a central portion having a threaded bore that threadably receives a threaded screw having a first end portion movable into engagement with the top rail of the barrier. An elongate foam member is superimposed over the elongate channel and a vinyl covering covers the elongate foam member.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel protective padding for covering the upper portions, including the top rail, of barriers, such as barriers that are found in various types of sports venues.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective padding of the aforementioned character that is easy to install in the field, is easily removable and is readily replaceable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective padding as described in the preceding paragraphs that is of a simple construction and one that can be inexpensively manufactured and installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective padding of the class described that is sturdy in use and attractive in appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective padding as described in the preceding paragraphs that is of durable construction, is reliable in operation and has a relatively long, useful life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a generally perspective view, partly broken away to show internal construction, illustrating one form of the protective padding of the invention as it appears when removably affixed to the upper portion of a barrier.

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged, generally perspective view of the area identified in FIG. 1 as 2-2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a generally perspective, exploded view similar to FIG. 2, further illustrating the internal construction of the protective padding of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a generally perspective, exploded view further illustrating the construction of the top rail covering channel and the top rail securement assembly of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, one form of the sports venue rail padding of the present invention is there shown. As previously mentioned, the protective padding is specially designed for covering the upper portion of a barrier such as a rail type barrier “B” and here comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart padding assemblies 16 that are positioned over the top rail “TR” of the barrier in the manner shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings with each padding assembly covering a section of the barrier. As best seen in FIG. 3, each of the padding assemblies 16 here comprises an elongate metal channel 18 having a top wall 20 and transversely spaced apart side walls 22 that are connected to the top wall. Affixed to the under surface of top wall 20 is a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart pairs of inwardly extending centering fingers 24 that are adapted to engage the top rail “TR”. Centering fingers 24 are transversely spaced apart and function to center the channel 18 with respect to the top rail (see FIG. 3). Affixed to the lower portion of each of the sidewalls 22 and extending inwardly therefrom are a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart, pairs of generally L-shaped support brackets 26.

Spanning each of the pairs of support brackets 26 is a specially configured securement member 28 that includes a curved central portion 28 a having a threaded bore 29 that threadably receives an elongate threaded screw 30. Screw 30, which is controllably movable from a first extended position to a second advanced position, has a tapered first end 30 a that is movable in engagement with the top rail of the barrier as the screw is advanced in the threaded bore (FIG. 3). Each securement member 28 includes first and second end portions 28 b and 28 c respectively, with each end portion having a downwardly extending bracket engaging finger 33. As will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, during installation of the protective padding, the bracket engaging fingers 33 are movable into pressural engagement with the support brackets upon advancement of the threaded screw from the first extended position to the second advanced position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, an elongate foam member 34 is superimposed over the elongate channel 18 and a protective vinyl covering 36 covers the elongate foam member. Foam member 34, which comprises an elongate foam channel that is generally U-shaped in cross-section, includes a top wall 34 a and transversely spaced apart side walls 34 b that are connected to the top wall.

In installing the protective padding of the invention in accordance with one form of the method of the invention, one of the elongate metal channels 18 of one of the padding assemblies is positioned over the top rail “TR” of the barrier in the manner shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. With the metal channel in position and centered relative to the top rail by means of the centering fingers 24, a selected one of the securement members 28 is positioned over a selected one of the plurality of longitudinally spaced apart, pairs of generally L-shaped support brackets 26 of the channel 18. This done, one of the threaded screws 30 of the padding assembly is threaded into the threaded bore 29 of the selected securement member 28 and is threadably advanced until the tapered first end 30 a of the screw moves into engagement with the lower surface of the top rail of the barrier in the manner shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Screw 30 is then further advanced to the second advanced position causing the bracket engaging fingers 33 of the selected securement member to controllably move into pressural engagement with the support bracket. Next, another one of the securement members 28 is positioned over another one of the plurality of longitudinally spaced apart, pairs of generally L-shaped support brackets 26 of the channel 18 and another one of the threaded screws 30 of the padding assembly is threaded into the threaded bore 29 of the securement member. This done, the threaded screw is threadably advanced until the tapered first end 30 a of the screw moves into engagement with the lower surface of the top rail of the barrier and is then further advanced to the second advanced position causing the bracket engaging fingers 33 of the securement member to controllably move into pressural engagement with the support bracket thereby effectively securing the channel 18 in position relative to the top rail of the barrier.

With the selected channel 18 thusly positioned over the top rail of the barrier, a selected one of the elongate foam channels 34 of the protective padding is superimposed over the elongate structural channel in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. This done, a vinyl covering 36 is affixed to the foam channel in a manner to substantially cover the foam channel as is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

It is to be understood that, while the barrier is shown in the drawings as a chain link fence, the padding assembly of the invention can be used in connection with various types of barriers having a top rail.

Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A protective padding covering the upper portion of a barrier having a top rail, said protective padding comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart padding assemblies, each said padding assembly comprising: (a) an elongate structural channel having a top wall and transversely spaced sidewalls connected to said top wall, each of said transversely spaced apart side walls having an inwardly extending support bracket; (b) a securement member including a central portion having a threaded bore, a first end portion in engagement with one of said inwardly extending support brackets and a second end portion in engagement with the other of said inwardly extending support brackets; and (c) a threaded screw threadably received within said threaded bore of said securement member for movement between a first position and a second position, said threaded screw having a first end portion movable into engagement with the top rail of the barrier.
 2. The protective padding as defined in claim 1 in which said top wall of said elongate channel includes inwardly extending, spaced apart centering fingers for engagement with the top rail of the barrier.
 3. The protective padding as defined in claim 1 further including an elongate foam channel superimposed over said elongate structural channel.
 4. The protective padding as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second end portions of said securement member includes a downwardly extending bracket engaging finger movable into pressural engagement with said inwardly extending support brackets upon advancement of said threaded screw from said first position to said second position.
 5. The protective padding as defined in claim 4 in which each of said inwardly extending support brackets is generally L-shaped in cross-section.
 6. The protective padding as defined in claim 4 in which said first end portion of said threaded screw is tapered.
 7. A padding assembly covering a section of a barrier having a top rail, said padding assembly comprising: (a) an elongate structural channel positioned over the top rail of the barrier, said elongate channel having a top wall including spaced apart inwardly extending centering fingers and transversely spaced sidewalls connected to said top wall, each of said transversely spaced apart side walls having an inwardly extending support bracket; (b) a securement member including a curved central portion having a threaded bore, a first end portion in engagement with one of said inwardly extending support brackets and a second end portion in engagement with the other of said inwardly extending support brackets; (c) a threaded screw threadably received within said threaded bore of said securement member for advancement between a first position and a second position, said threaded screw having a first tapered end portion disposed in engagement with the top rail of the barrier; and (d) an elongate foam channel superimposed over said elongate structural channel.
 8. The padding assembly as defined in claim 7 further including a vinyl covering superimposed over said elongate foam channel.
 9. The padding assembly as defined in claim 7 in which each of said first and second end portions of said securement member includes a downwardly extending bracket engaging finger movable into pressural engagement with said inwardly extending support brackets upon advancement of said threaded screw from said first position to said second position.
 10. The padding assembly as defined in claim 9 in which each of said inwardly extending support brackets is generally L-shaped in cross-section.
 11. A padding assembly covering a section of a barrier having a top rail, said padding assembly comprising: (a) an elongate metal channel positioned over the top rail of the barrier, said elongate metal channel having a top wall including spaced apart inwardly extending centering fingers and transversely spaced sidewalls connected to said top wall, each of said transversely spaced apart side walls having an inwardly extending support bracket; (b) a securement member including a curved central portion having a threaded bore, a first end portion in engagement with one of said inwardly extending support brackets and a second end portion in engagement with the other of said inwardly extending support brackets, each of said first and second end portions of said securement member including a downwardly extending bracket engaging finger movable into pressural engagement with said inwardly extending support brackets; (c) a threaded screw threadably received within said threaded bore of said securement member for movement between a first position and a second position, said threaded screw having a first tapered end portion movable into engagement with the top rail of the barrier; (d) an elongate foam channel superimposed over said elongate structural channel; and (e) a vinyl covering superimposed over said the elongate foam channel.
 12. The padding assembly as defined in claim 11 in which each of said inwardly extending support brackets is generally L-shaped in cross-section.
 13. A method for installing a protective padding over a barrier having a top rail, said protective padding including a padding assembly comprising an elongate structural channel having transversely spaced sidewalls each said sidewall having an inwardly extending support bracket; a securement member including a central portion having a threaded bore, a first end portion and a second end portion; and a threaded screw having a first end and being threadably receivable within said threaded bore of said securement member for advancement between a first position to a second advanced position wherein the first end of the screw is in engagement with the top rail of the barrier and to a third advanced position, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning the elongate structural channel over the top rail of the barrier; (b) positioning the securement member over the inwardly extending support brackets so that the first end portion thereof is in engagement with one of the inwardly extending support brackets and the second end portion is in engagement with the other of said inwardly extending support brackets; and (c) threadably engaging the threaded screw with the threaded bore of the securement member and advancing the threaded screw from the first position to the second advanced position.
 14. The method as defined in claim 13 in which both the first and second end portions of the securement member include bracket engaging fingers and in which the method includes the further step of advancing the threaded screw from the second advanced position to a third advanced position to cause the bracket engaging fingers to controllably move into pressural engagement with the support bracket.
 15. The method as defined in claim 13 in which the padding assembly further includes an elongate foam channel and in which the method further includes the step of superimposing the elongate foam channel over the elongate structural channel.
 16. The method as defined in claim 15 in which the padding assembly further includes a vinyl covering and in which the method further includes the step of superimposing the final covering over the elongate foam channel. 